UK recruit Drew Barker took direction from former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer at the Elite 11 camp in Beaverton, Ore., last week.

University of Kentucky recruit Drew Barker went toe-to-toe and throw-for-throw with 17 of the nation's best high school quarterbacks last week, and he proved to be one of the Elite 11.

Barker, a four-star prospect from Conner High School, finished with the No. 7 ranking in the six-day, Nike-sponsored Elite 11 quarterback competition that ended Wednesday in Beaverton, Ore. Quarterbacks entered the event - which ran concurrently with The Opening camp for top prospects at all positions - with the goal of being among the top 11 performers determined by camp coach Trent Dilfer and his staff.

Reaching that goal is perhaps the highest achievement for a high school quarterback in a camp or combine setting.

"It was pretty surreal when they told me I made it," Barker said. "I thought of the whole process I went through, of starting my sophomore year, going into my junior year. It was a lot of hard work, but it doesn't stop there. You've just got to keep going."

Barker, North Hardin's Andre' Woodson, who attended UK, and Seneca's DaMarcus Smith, now at Western Kentucky, are the only Kentuckians to have been named to the Elite 11. UK's coaches sent Barker congratulatory messages online Wednesday night when the results were announced on Twitter.

Sean White, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is undecided on a college, was named the Elite 11 MVP.

Barker, who committed to UK in May and should be a top contender for Mr. Football in 2013, began the final day of competition ranked No. 10 and secured his spot in the Elite 11 with his play in The Opening's 7-on-7 passing tournament.

Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who is also an ESPN analyst, told Barker that in Kentucky high school football, he can be a "big fish in a small pond" and still succeed without having perfect footwork and timing. But that wouldn't cut it at The Opening, where many of the nation's best defensive backs were roaming the secondary. Dilfer challenged him to step up, and Barker said he acclimated and was on his game for the 7-on-7.

"One little misstep or just being slow by just a hair could result in an interception or a tipped ball," Barker said. "? He said that I was ? kind of in third gear. He said he wanted to see me get into fifth and really take good coaching. That's what I did. He said that's what put me in the Elite 11."

While in Oregon, Barker got to meet and hear from some of football's biggest names who served as camp counselors, including Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, Taj Boyd of Clemson, and Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville.

"He was just, 'Oh, you're going to that school,' and messing around," Barker said. "But he complimented the (UK) coaching staff and said he hopes we turn it around because it would be good for the state."

- Steve Jones

ADVERTISEMENT

Most Popular

Most Commented

More Headlines

Most Viewed

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Wildcat recruit Drew Barker one of Elite 11 at quarterback camp

University of Kentucky recruit Drew Barker went toe-to-toe and throw-for-throw with 17 of the nation's best high school quarterbacks last week, and he proved to be one of the Elite 11.